(a) Necessary joinder. - Subject to the provisions of
Rule 23, those who are united in interest must be joined as plaintiffs or
defendants; but if the consent of anyone who should have been joined as
plaintiff cannot be obtained he may be made a defendant, the reason therefor
being stated in the complaint; provided, however, in all cases of joint
contracts, a claim may be asserted against all or any number of the persons
making such contracts.

(b) Joinder of parties not united in interest. - The
court may determine any claim before it when it can do so without prejudice to
the rights of any party or to the rights of others not before the court; but
when a complete determination of such claim cannot be made without the presence
of other parties, the court shall order such other parties summoned to appear
in the action.

(c) Joinder of parties not united in interest - Names
of omitted persons and reasons for nonjoinder to be pleaded. - In any pleading
in which relief is asked, the pleader shall set forth the names, if known to
him, of persons who ought to be parties if complete relief is to be accorded
between those already parties, but who are not joined, and shall state why they
are omitted.

(d) Necessary Joinder of House of Representatives and
Senate. - The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro
Tempore of the Senate, as agents of the State through the General Assembly,
must be joined as defendants in any civil action challenging the validity of a
North Carolina statute or provision of the North Carolina Constitution under
State or federal law. (1967, c. 954, s. 1; 2017-57,
s. 6.7(j).)